diff --git a/src/components/update_notification/update_notification.js b/src/components/update_notification/update_notification.js
index 172be889ad..83fbf9229e 100644
--- a/src/components/update_notification/update_notification.js
+++ b/src/components/update_notification/update_notification.js
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ const UpdateNotification = {
       }
     },
     shouldShow () {
-      return this.$store.state.serverSideStorage.flagStorage.updateCounter < CURRENT_UPDATE_COUNTER &&
+      return !this.$store.state.instance.disableUpdateNotification &&
+        this.$store.state.currentUser &&
+        this.$store.state.serverSideStorage.flagStorage.updateCounter < CURRENT_UPDATE_COUNTER &&
         !this.$store.state.serverSideStorage.flagStorage.dontShowUpdateNotifs
     }
   },
diff --git a/src/components/update_notification/update_notification.vue b/src/components/update_notification/update_notification.vue
index 07e91ec953..8cae3de9c4 100644
--- a/src/components/update_notification/update_notification.vue
+++ b/src/components/update_notification/update_notification.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <template>
   <Modal
-    :is-open="shouldShow"
+    v-if="shouldShow"
+    :is-open="!!shouldShow"
     class="UpdateNotification"
     :no-background="true"
   >
diff --git a/src/modules/instance.js b/src/modules/instance.js
index 220463ca47..bfce6f3844 100644
--- a/src/modules/instance.js
+++ b/src/modules/instance.js
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ const defaultState = {
   logoMargin: '.2em',
   logoMask: true,
   logoLeft: false,
+  disableUpdateNotification: false,
   minimalScopesMode: false,
   nsfwCensorImage: undefined,
   postContentType: 'text/plain',
diff --git a/static/config.json b/static/config.json
index 53a4be8236..fb39ff77f5 100644
--- a/static/config.json
+++ b/static/config.json
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
   "logoMask": true,
   "logoLeft": false,
   "minimalScopesMode": false,
+  "disableUpdateNotification": false,
   "nsfwCensorImage": "",
   "postContentType": "text/plain",
   "redirectRootLogin": "/main/friends",